Extensible curtain-rod and method of making.



PATENTED JUNE 1 1 G. H. THURSTON. EXTBNSIBLE CURTAIN ROD AND METHOD OF MAKING.

. I nu emf or Charles HT Hursion.

A L ow APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1905.

ru: NORRIS Plrtns co., wAsumuroN. u. c.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. THURSTON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY A. FOWVLER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

EXTENSIBLE CURTAIN-ROD AND METHOD OF MAKING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed F r ry 25,1905- Serial No. 247,268-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs H. THURS- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Extensible Curtain-Rods and Methods of Making, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings, forming a part of the same, in which Figures 1 and 2 represent different views of my improved curtain rod showing sides at right angles to each other. Fig. 3 represents my improved rod with the tubular portion shown in central sectional view. Fig. 4 represents the dies and manner of forming the screw threaded indentations in the tubular portion of the rod, and Fig. 5 represents the dies and method of restoring the contour of the tubular portion of the rod after the screw threaded indentations have been formed.

Similar reference letters and figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

My invention relates to that class of curtain rods which are adapted to be held between the opposing sides of a window casing by means of a spring tension, such as are shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 466,940, issued to Henry A. Fowler and John H. Lingley, January 12, 1892, and it is the object of my invention to provide a simple inexpensive and practical means of varying the length of this class of curtain rods in order to adapt them to windows of different widths, and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 denotes a tubular section having attached to one end an enlarged tip 2 carrying in its outer end an elastic washer 3 adapted to press against one side of the window casing. Partially inclosed within the tubular section 1 is a metal rod 4 carrying on its outer and exposed end a sliding sleeve 5 to the end of which is attached an enlarged tip 6 provided like the tip 2 with an elastic washer 7 adapted to bear against the opposite side of the window casing. The curtain rod when ap plied to the window casing is adjusted to a length somewhat greater than the width be tween the opposing sides of the window casmgs.

In order to insert the curtain roll between the sides of the casing, the sleeve 5 is slipped on the rod 4, thereby compressing a spiral spring, shown by broken lines 8 in Fig. 3,

which. is inserted in the sleeve and bears against the end of the rod 4 and a backing of the washer 7. The employment of a spring actuated tip by which a pressure is exerted against the opposite sides of the window casing with sufficient pressure to support the curtain rod and curtain suspended thereon, is not new, and forms no part of my present invention. Curtain rods of this class have been for many years in common use and are fully described in the patent to Fowler and Lingley above referred to. A curtain rod, however, such as is described in said patent to Fowler and Lingley, is capable of use in window casings of different widths only within narrow limits, and it is the object of my present invention to provide other means of varying the normal length of the curtain rod to adapt it to windows of considerable difference in widths. I accomplish this result by making the rod in two telescopic sections, one section comprising the tube 1 and the other section comprising the rod 4, with means for fixing the position of the rod 4 within the tube 1 at'diiferent points without interfering with the smooth outer surface of the rod, and without changing the appearance of the rod except as to its length.

In my improved rod I form short screw threaded indentations 9 and 10 on opposite sides of the tube and about midway its length by indenting the opposite surfaces of the tube for a short distance by means of a pair of screw threaded dies 11 and 12 which are brought together, by any suitable means, against a screw threaded core 13 inserted within the tube before the pressure of the dies is applied, as represented in Fig. 4. The screw threaded core 13 is adjustably held in a bracket 14 attached to the die supporting block 15 so as to maintain the threads of the core 13 in registration with the screw threads on the dies 11 and 12. The compression of the tubes betweenthe dies 11 and 12 and against the screw threaded core 13 embosses the opposite surfaces of the tube to form the indentations 9 and 10 which exactly fit the screw threads on the core 13. The tube 1 is then removed from the screw threaded core 13 by rotating it in thus been compressed and restored to its; original circular form is fitted to form one section of my improved curtain rod and receive the rod 4 which is provided with a screw thread 20 corresponding in pitch to' the screw threaded indentations 9 and 10, said screw thread 20 extending from the end of the rod to a point 21 slightly past the screw threaded indentations 9 and 10, so that when the rod 4 is screwed into the tube 1 as far as possible, its screw thread 20 will still be engaged by the screw threaded indentations 9 and 10 of the tube, and a considerable plain section of the rod 4 will be included between the point 21 of the screw thread and the end 22 of the tube, the distance between the points 21 and 22 being the length of the rod 4 which can be removed from the tube 1 by the unscrewing of the rod without exposing the screw thread 20.

I am aware that it is not new to form an extensible curtain rod comprising two tel-escopic sections, one of which consists of a tube carrying a nut attached to its end 22 and adapted to receive a screw threaded rod, but this construction requires the nut to be formed in a separate piece and brazed or otherwise attached to the end of the tube. In order to provide for an internal screw thread in a nut so attached, requires a nut of considerable thickness, and as the nut is placed at the end of the tube any extension of the rod 4 exposes its screw threaded surface which impedes the sliding movement of the curtain rings over the surface of the rod.

I prefer to make a series of indentations in the sides of the tubular section but a single indentation in one side and at a suitable oblique angle to the axis of the tube may section, provided with a series of indentations on one side thereof, the top of said tubular section remaining smooth, and an adjustable rod fitted to telescope within said tubular section and having a screw threaded section to engage said series of indentations.

2. As an article of manufacture, an extensible curtain rod comprising a tubular section provided with a series of indentations in length lessthan one half the circumference of the tubular section, and a screw threaded rod fitted to telescope within said tubular section and engage said series of indentations.

As an article of manufacture, an extensible curtain rod, comprising a tubular section provided with a series of indentations on one side thereof and about midway its length, and a rod fitted to telescope within said tubular section and provided with screw threads from the end of said rod for a distance slightly greater than one half the length of said tubular section to engage said indentations.

4. As an article of manufacture, an extensible curtain rod comprising a tubular section having an indentation in its side in length less than one half the circumference of the tubular section, and a screw threaded rod telescoping with said tubular section and fitted to engage said indentation.

5. In a curtain rod, the combination of a tubular section having a series of indentations in its side in length less than one half of the circumference of said tubular section, said indentations placed midway thelength of said tubular section, and a screw threaded rod telescoping with said tubular section and engaging said series of indentations.

Dated this 21st day of February, 1905.

CHARLES H. THURSTON.

Witnesses:

PENELOPE OOMBERBACH, RUFUs B. FOWLER. 

